Allagash

Yeah, I know what you thought when you checked the title. "Another Berenger sell-out." How I loved to hate him in Platoon - he is, after Gregory Peck, the greatest living Ahab (as of this writing). So, for this film... you will be pleasantly surprised.

Mr. Berenger (Jim Reed) actually gets to carry the bulk of the movie! That's right, you only get the glammy sell-out corn near the end, and even then only for a few scenes (essentially, wherever the dialog is overpowered by the f-bomb - I'm no prude, but - come on - get a thesaurus!).

So, you actually get Mr. Berenger at an advanced age playing a somewhat suitable character. While I believe the role is still perhaps ten years ago for most actors, Mr. Berenger plays it eloquently (with just the proper count of sighs, groans, and moans - take this from an old guy). I believe him, and I see echoes of Sgt. Barnes in his demeanor.

If the powers-that-be of this film had allowed Mr. Berenger to play it straight, in character, to the end, they might have had an "art film" on their hands. Such a shame.

Still. Bravo, Maestro. Bravo.

-S

Underused Throughout His Film Career, Berenger is Still Willing to Step-Up and Brave the Harsh Shoot During a Winter in Maine.

He Carries this Modest Thriller Single-Handedly Disposing of Four Robbers and Murderers.

It's a Not-Bad Character Study with the Weather-Beaten Face and Body of the 71-Year-Old Thespian.

His Character is Next-to-Death Battling Lung-Cancer, Alcoholism, and Devastating Guilt of Killing His Daughter in a Drunk-Driving Accident.

He Fights His Demons as well as the Bad-Guys with Ex-Marine Gravitas.

Worth a Watch for Berenger's Performance and a Good Cat-and-Mouse Game within the Snow-Covered Mountains.

...and I don't mean Tom Berenger as much as the movie itself. I suppose "Blood Money" was taken, so things were really freshened up with that "and" in the middle. The movie turned out to be as derivative as its name, besides the snowy and cold setting it ain't got much going on for it. In his full feature debut, John Barr seems to have optioned for imitating many other, better thrillers, because the story of "Blood and Money" is familiar, predictable, slowly dull and seriously uninspired.

Tom Berenger gives us Jim Reed - a grizzled, seen-it-all Vietnam war veteran with traumas in his past, and in his twilight years. Jim's spending his days in Northern Maine, hunting and trying not to drink, but things start going south when he stumbles upon a dead woman's body and a big bag full of cash. "Blood and Money" doesn't try to invent or reinvent anything, and is aware of it, but that doesn't help it much. Throughout its 85 minute runtime it feels like watching a film that's constantly trying to find heart, emotion, tension, but somehow manages to achieve the opposite, feeling dry, heartless in execution and completely devoid of surprises. In process, the pacing suffered greatly.

There are many odd flaws in the writing, I couldn't figure out why some characters do what they do, the motivation/response sometimes appeared to be unclear, unreasoned. Despite Jim Reed seemingly trying to do good, he did more questionable things, to say the least. An anti-hero? If so, still a shabby one. Berenger's seem to be a good fit for such a role, and does his best at channeling Jim Reed's world-weariness and the years of hardships on his shoulders. "Blood and Money" is mostly a one man's show, but the script only allows Tom to do so much.

Clearly, it's a B movie, and perhaps even a passion project. Cinematography doesn't exactly excel, but it's shot thoughtfully and tastefully enough, and the locations (Maine's endless forests, rural small town's aesthetic, snowy hills and caves, etc.) do a big part of the work, though explored on a level I'd call underwhelming. The action, as little of it as there was, also called for mixed feelings. If they tried for realism, they kind of missed the mark.

No matter how much I tried to get into it, the writing and pacing kept their offense, and the sum is such that I can't even really recommend this movie, except for die-hard fans of Tom Berenger and/or films set in wintery locations. My rating: 4/10.

I'm a fan of Tom Berenger so watched the whole 85 minutes of this movie. There is little dialogue and the 5 or 6 characters (Tom included) earn their money by simply walking around in the snow and shooting at each other. Tom tries very hard to be a tired and sickly old timer, Jim Reed, but it is painful to watch this excellent actor in such a crappy role. Clint could have done this better. He's older than Tom. This movie could have been edited to 60 minutes tops. It's terribly tedious and slow.

You must have a great listening skill and memory to like this movie. It has to do with the law of attraction. I think you will agree with me if we are on the same page after you have watch the movie. Its 1 of those movies that you should not be distracted when watching.